A26796:413
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
What is so worthy of admiration as that the Eternal should become mortal, that being in the form of God, he should take on him the form of a Servant, that the Judge of the World should be condemned by the guilty, that he should leave his Throne in Heaven to be nailed to the Cross, that the Prince of Life should taste of Death? These are the great Wonders which the Lord of Love hath performed, and all for sinful, miserable and unworthy Man, who deserved not the least drop of that Sweat and Blood he spent for him: and without any advantage to himself, for what content can be added to his felicity by a cursed Creature? Infinite Love, that is as admirable as saving! Love that passeth Knowledge! and is as much above our comprehension as desert. In natural things, admiration is the effect of ignorance, but here 'tis increased by Knowledge. For the more we understand the excellent Greatness of God, and the vileness of Man, the more we shall admire saving Mercy.
What is so worthy of admiration as that the Eternal should become mortal, that being in the form of God, he should take on him the form of a Servant, that the Judge of the World should be condemned by the guilty, that he should leave his Throne in Heaven to be nailed to the Cross, that the Prince of Life should taste of Death? These are the great Wonders which the Lord of Love hath performed, and all for sinful, miserable and unworthy Man, who deserved not the least drop of that Sweat and Blood he spent for him: and without any advantage to himself, for what content can be added to his felicity by a cursed Creature? Infinite Love, that is as admirable as saving! Love that passeth Knowledge! and is as much above our comprehension as desert. In natural things, admiration is the effect of ignorance, but here 'tis increased by Knowledg. For the more we understand the excellent Greatness of God, and the vileness of Man, the more we shall admire saving Mercy.
And the most humble acknowledgements are due for it. When David told Mephibosheth, that he should eat bread with him at his Table continually, 1he bowed himself, and said, What is thy Servant, that thou shouldest look on such a dead Dog as I am? A speech full of gratitude, and humility; yet he was of a Royal extraction, though at that time in a low condition. With a far greater sense of our unworthiness, we should reflect upon that condescending Love, that provides the Bread of God for the food of our Souls, without which we had perished for want. David